Cotton-chopper.



A. 0. YEATMAN.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1912.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

u 0 m H a COLUMBIA PLANDGHAPH (0.. WASHINGTON. I). c.

A. O. YEATMAN.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.6,1912.

Patented Mar. 10, 191i 2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

Suva/M01 ,/Z. filjleaiman COLUMBIA PLANOG RAH ALFRED O. YEATMAN, 0F VICI, OKLAHOMA.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

Application filed November 6, 1912. Serial No. 729,885.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED O. YEATMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Vici, in the county of Dewey and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ootton-Choppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in combined cultivators and cotton choppers, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the utility and efficiency in a device of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device whereby cotton plants may be cultivated and likewise thinned by cutting out plants at certain predetermined intervals.

Another object of the invention is to provide asimply constructed device whereby the depth of cut of the cultivator portion of the improved device may be controlled from the seat of the driver without stopping the operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device whereby the operation of the chopping portion of the improved device may be stopped without interfering with the operation of the cultivator portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device having an improved means for steering the same with out stopping the operation of the cultivator or chopping portions.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings of the preferred form of the invention; Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section; Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified, form of one of the coverers or sweeps; Fig. 4: is a plan view of the member shown in Fig. 3.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The main frame of the improved device is preferably oblong and includes spaced side members 1011, end members 1213 and an intermediate transverse member 14. The frame may be constructed of any suitable material but is preferably formed of metal L bars suitably riveted or otherwise connccted.

The rear axle of the improved device is preferably of the arching form as shown at 15 and provided with axle journals to receive relatively large rear bearing wheels 16. The axle 15 is bolted or otherwise secured beneath the rear member 12 of the frame and is preferably provided with diagonal braces 17.

The draft tongue of the improved device is represented as a whole at 18 and is pivoted at 19 to the transverse member 14;. A steering lever 20 is pivoted at 21 to the forward member 13 of the frame and loosely coupled by a clip device 22 to the tongue between the pivots 19 and 21. The lever 20 extends rearwardly and is curved as shown and terminates near the seat of the driver. By this means it will be obvious that the tongue may be readily swung upon its pivot 19 to control the direction of movement of the device. The seat of the improved device is of the usual form and represented conventionally at 23, and mounted upon the frame member 12 by a standard 23.

Depending from the side members 1011 of the frame near their forward ends are brackets 2 l25, and connected in these brackets a transverse bar or supporting member 26. The member 20 is connected in any suitable manner to the brackets 2 1-25, as for instance, by U-bolts or like devices 27.

Mounted to swing at their forward ends to the member 26 are coacting cultivator beams 28, each having a disk cultivator member 29 mounted for rotation respectively upon its inner end. The beams 28 are spaced apart at their forward ends a distance corresponding substantially to the width of the supporting frame and are curved inwardly slightly at their rear ends so that the disks 29 are caused to assume rcversely oblique positions at opposite sides of the center line of the frame Connected to each of the beams 28 is a strap or cleat 30 from which a rod 31 rises, as shown.

Mounted for rotation upon the rear frame member 12, is a rock shaft having forwardly and upwardly directed arms 33 34. The arms terminate at their rear ends in collars 95-96 slidable upon tie shaft 32 and adapted to be coupled to rotate therewith by set screws 97-9S. At their forward ends the arms terminate in eyes 3536 through which the rods 31 extend. By this means the arms and, the rods carried thereby may be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 32 and clamped in this adjusted position. The rods are threaded at their upper ends to receive adjusting nuts 37, and each rod is provided with a spring 38 which bears be tween the strap or cleat 30 and the lower side of the eye portions 35 of the arms 833 l.

At one end the shaft 32 is provided with a rearwardly and upwardly extending offset 39; A notched segment 40 is connected to one of the longitudinal frame members, for instance the frame member 10, and pivoted at ll to the segment is a lever arm 42 having a spring controlled pawl 43 engaging in the notches of the segment. A rod 44 connects the lever 42 with the offset 39. By this simple arrangement it will be obvious that by actuating the lever 42 the cultivator bars 38 may be adjusted vertically to control the depth of cut of the disks 29, and by adjusting the arms 33 upon the shaft 32, the distance apart of the members 29 may also be controlled.

Connected at one end to the member 26 is a plate 45 which extends rearwardly and is provided with transverse guide plates 4E6 l-7 connected thereto at their upper and lower faces and extending laterally. Pivoted at l8r9 to the member 26 at each side of the plate 4-5 are beam members 51 which extend rearwardly and between the guide members et6l7 and are directed downwardly at their inner ends as shown at 52-53. The members 46 l7 are provided with pins 54: 55 to limit the outward movement of the beams 50-5L A spring is coiled at 56 around a holding pin 57 in the plate 45 and thence extended, as shown at 58 59, and directed downwardly at 6061 to bear against the outer edges of the beams 50 51 and thus operates to hold the beams yieldably in their inward positions or against the side edges of the plate 45. The downwardturned terminals 52 of the beams 5051 are provided with chopper blades 62-63 and with breaking pins 53 of wood or like material.

Connected to one of the longitudinal frame members, for instance, the frame member 11, is a bracket 641-, and extending over the bracket at its inner end is a combined guard and guide 65 having a longitudinal slot 66. Pivoted at 67 to the bracket or is a lever device comprising a body por tion 68 which extends outwardly over the bracket 64 and through the guide 65. At its i ner end the body 68 is down-turned as shown at 6'9 and thence extended laterally as shown at 70, the lateral portion being down-turned at its ends as shown at 7172 and extending by the down-turned portions between the beams 5051. The downturned portions 7172, it will be noted, are spaced a considerable distance apart so that when the lever device is vibrated upon its pivot 67 the portions 7172 will operate to separate the beams 50-51 against the resistance of the springs 58-59, and then when the lever device is released the springs will return the beams to their normal inward positions. At its outer end the bracket 6 f is down-turned to carry a stub shaft 73 upon which a tappet device 74: is mounted for rotation. The tappet device includes radial lugs 75 76 and is likewise provided with a small chain pinion 77. Connected to one of the bearing wheels 16 is a chain wheel 7 8 from which a chain 7 9 leads to the sprocket 77. By this means the motion of the drive wheel is communicated to the tappet device for intermittently operating the lev 1' device 68. Pivoted at 79 to the frame member 11 is a foot lever 80. Pivoted at 81 to the foot lever is a rod 82 having a downturned terminal 83 at its free end and ex tending through the slot 66 and into the path of the body portion 68 of the lever device. By this arrangement when the foot lever 81 is in its rearward position the down turne'd terminal 83 of the rod 82 is maintained at the rear end of the slot (36 and out of engagement with the body 68 of the lever device, but when the foot lever is pushed forward by the foot of the operator the down-turned portion 83 of the lever will pick up the outer end of the lever device and move it into its forward position and thus cause the down-turned portion 7172 of the lever device to spread or separate the beams 5051 to hold them in separated position and out of the path of the tappet 7576 so long as the foot of the operator remains in engagement with the lever 80. By this means the choppers 61-63 may be held out of operative position and caused to pass the plants without producing any effect thereon. This is an important advantage in devices of this character and enables the lvlounted to swing upon the member 36 at opposite sides of the beams 5051 are other smaller beams 8l85, the beams being preferably formed of bars twisted toward their rear ends and terminating in cnlti 'ator shovels 8t3--8?, the latter shovels being a ranged to throw the earth outwardly while the disks 2t) ari arranged to throw the earth inwardly. The beam 8 1-, is provided with a strap or cleat 88 while the beam 85 provided with a similar strap or cleat. A red 90 riss from one of the cleats while a similar rod 91 rises from the other cleat. The rods are thriaded at their upper ends and extend through the t'ansverse member H and are provided with adjusting nuts 92--93 upon. their upper ends. Springs EH: surround the rods 90-9l and b er upon the cleats 88 and against the outer side of the member l t and thus exert their force to maintain the beams Sli Sfi in their downward positions. The springs 353 9 1 are oi. sullicient strength to maintain the cultivator beams in their downward positions with sirl ficient force to resist normal upward strains but which will yield it the cnltimtor shovels meet with obstrijictions which would otherwise lractu re or break them and thus prevent breakage of the parts.

The sizes of the wheels 16, gear 78 and pinion. '7? are so gaged and proportioned as to nose the lever device (38 to operate at proper intervals to produce the requisite chopping action, and thus leave the growing plants at proper intervals. The beams 8- 1: are jointed, as shown at 99, so that shovels or sweeps of *arious forms may be substituted tor the shovels or disks oG---ST, as for instance the sweeps 100 as shown in Figs. 2:; and 4t.

The improved device is simple in construction, :an be strongly and durably manniiactured, and operates cl'leetually for the purpose described.

llaving described the invention, what I claim is:

l. in a device ot the class described, a supporting tl'rame, coacting members pivoted to said frame and provided with cut ters, a 1n ans operating to yieldably maintain said coacling members with the cutters normally in close relation, a lever device pivoted to said frame and including downward directed spaced terminals extending betwecn said coat-ting members, and means for imparting motion intermittently to said lever to cause a corresponding intermittent action. of the cutters.

in a device of 'he class describtnl, a .up 'iorting frame having bearing wheels, coacting members pivoted to said frame and provided with downwardly directed cutters. a sprii'ig operating to yieldably maintain said coz'icting members with the cutters normally in close relation, a lever device pivoted to said :lframe and including downwardly directed spaced terminals extending between said enacting members, and means for imparting the motion of said bearing wheels intm'mittently to said. lever device.

3. la a device of the class described, a supporting '1 nine including a forward member SHFIPQIHlOCl below the body of the same, a plate rigidly connected to said ilorward frame member, combined guide and guard members connected to said plate and extending later: lly thercoi", coacting members pivoted to said forward 'l ran'ic member and extending between said combined guide and guard members and provided with downwardly directed cutters, a spring ope ating to yieldably maintain said enacting members with the cutters normally in close relation and against said plate, a lever device pivoted to said frame and including downwardly directed terminals spaced apart and extending between said coactii'ig IUCHIlJOl'S, and means for imparting motion intermittently to said lever device.

4L. In a device of the class described, a supporting :l 'ame including a 'liorward member suspended below the body oil said lrame, a plate connected rigidly to said forward fame member, combined guide and guard n'lcmbers connected to said plate and extending late ally of the same, enacting members pivoted to said forward l ame mcmbe' and extending between .aid guide and guard members and having cutters at their free ends, a spring operating to yieldably maintain said coacting members with the cutters normally in relatively close relation, and n1 ians :lor intermittently spreading said coacting members against the resistance of said spring.

5. In a. device of the class described, a. supporting frame including a iliorward member suspended below the body of said :lrame, coacting members pivoted to said forward frame member and provided with downvardly directed cutters, a spring operating to yicldably maintain said eoacting members with the cutters normally in relatively close relation, a lever device swinging from said :liame and with dowmvardly directed tern'iinals spaced apart and extending between said coacting men'ibers, means :lior imparting motion intermittently to said lever, and means for holding said lever out of the path of said motion impartii'ig means.

(3. In a. device of the class llQStilllHfitl. a sup- 'iorting 'li'ramc including a 'lorward member Sl'lsptlldtld below the body ol' said frame, coacting members pivoted to said torwa rd lrame member and provided with downwardly directed cutters, a s nking operating to yieldably maintain said coacling members with the cutters normally in relatively close relation, a lever device swinging :lrom said frame and with downwardly directed terminals spaced apart and extemling between said coacting members, a keeper having a longitudinal slot and bearing over said le- In testimony whereof I aHix my signature ver, a rod having a do-lwnward turned ternliiin presence OI" two Witnesses.

nal extending throng the slot and into tie path of said lever, and means under the con- ALFRED YEATMAN': trol of the operator for actuating said rod Witnesses:

to hold said lever device out of the path of J. N. HoUsER said motion imparting means. THos. HUTOHINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

